Tuesday, 10 May 2016

A new jointing plane - 24" version

I had thought my jointing plane making days were over... glad they weren’t!

This was a rather large undertaking. A new size with a few alterations. The first order of business was adjusting the design to a 24" plane. It is not as simple as adding 3/4" to each end of a 22-1/2" plane. Everything needs to be scaled accordingly. ‘Accordingly’ is code for ‘make it look right’. I use a rough mathematical approach, but for the most part, I rely on my eyes to evaluate things.

The front bun is pushed forward which allows it to be lowered at the same time. Forward by about 3/8". Not very much, but it allows for an interesting addition to the plane. It extends the size of the cove at the back of the upper portion of the bun - you can see it above. This provides an additional location to place ones thumb for doing edge jointing. I am a big fan of a pinch grip when edge jointing - placing your thumb on the top and then using your index finger as a fence along the edge of the board below. Lowering the bun also helps, and is just low enough that I can get a good functional pinch grip even with my smallish hands.

One technical challenge of this plane was the fact that the cove on the sides of the top portion of the bun are lower than cove at the back of the bun. This made for an interesting shaping approach, but I think the effect was well worth the effort and the detail has become a favourite of mine. The goal is always nice visually crisp work that is also touchable and tactile.

The infill is Honduran Rosewood, the sides and sole are 01 tool steel, the lever cap and screw are bronze as is the knurled end of the adjuster. The 2-5/8" blade is high carbon steel, bedded at 47.5 degrees. It weighs 11.75lbs - exactly the same as my 22-1/2" bronze sided, African Blackwood filled jointing plane. Interesting to see the effects of changing materials.

Packaging these large, heavy planes is best done in a custom fitted block of 3" foam. I use a jig saw to cut out the opening and use a comic book storage box to contain it (yes, I was an avid comic book reader, and still have a box of comics lovingly bagged and stored away).

7 Comments:

Hi Konrad,Sweet plane as always! Noticed your bench in the last shots. Very Nice. I just sorta finished my bench this fall. I have to say the combination of Benchcrafted vices and your plane is tops!!! My favorite tools to work with in my shop.Cheers Chris

Question: how many of Konrad's friends would like to see him A: making a combination of tradition designs along with his on K series plans, or B. sticking to his guns on making K planes of his own design, which, to my mind, exceed in the beauty of their lines and ease of use any and all planes that have come before them?

Interestingly, one of the first tasks of the jointing plane was to flatten the new owners workbench. I have been toying with the idea of building yet another bench just so I can install a Benchcrafted leg vise... how crazy is that!?